Some options for swinging away on a summer's day

Summer has finally arrived and it's always best to be outside on a beautiful day. Of all the outdoor furniture pieces on my "must-have" list, the hammock remains my No. 1 choice. What could be better than swinging away on a lazy afternoon with a cool drink and a good book?

Historic Albertan town a stone's throw from Calgary, chock full of community spirit

Strathmore's roots dig deep into Alberta's history.

In 1883, during the eastward construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the tracks ended at a small hamlet. That hamlet would come to be known as Strathmore, reportedly named by Scotsman James Ross, who was in charge of the rail project.

Housing activity in Calgary's surrounding communities continues at a brisk pace with record-setting quarterly sales in Airdrie, Okotoks and Cochrane.

Year-to-date, 2,938 units were sold in surrounding towns up to and including June 30, a 31 per cent increase over last year.

"In addition to lifestyle preferences, tighter supply conditions for Calgary single-family homes in more affordable price ranges are fueling demand in many of the areas surrounding Calgary," said CREB® president Bill Kirk.

I started my flower seeds last weekend and I am not using a greenhouse. I am using my growop — a bank of lights tucked into a niche off the kitchen.

The phrase "grow-op" has certain negative implications but I swear I'm not breaking any laws. I love flowers and I hate the big price of buying them retail so I am starting a few at home from seed.